Managing Menopause - Breast Cancer

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Breast Cancer

What is Breast Cancer?

Who is most at risk of developing breast cancer?

Mammography

Common Breast Problems

External Resources - organisations and other sources of support

What is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is an abnormal growth of cells which, in the breast, starts in the milk ducts. It may grow into surrounding tissues and spread ultimately to other organs of the body.

Click on image to enlarge.

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths in Australian women. However, whilst we should be responsible about looking after our breast health, it is important to remember that many more women die of heart disease and stroke in Australia than they do of breast cancer.

Who is most at risk of developing breast cancer?

All women over 50 years of age
Women who have had a previous breast cancer
Women with a family history (mother, daughter or sister) of breast cancer

EARLY DIAGNOSIS is the key to successful treatment.

FACT - 9 out of 10 breast lumps are not cancer.

Mammography

Breast X-ray screening can show breast changes that are too small to be felt by you or examination by your doctor.

As breast cancer is most common in women over 50, BreastScreen offer free screening mammography to women over this age. However, women over 40 can also use the service.

For an appointment telephone 13 20 50 - no referral is necessary or visit the BreastScreen web site in your State.

BreastScreen Australia

www.breastscreen.info.au/

Federal government funded mammography screening program in Australia.

BreastScreen ACT

http://health.act.gov.au/c/health?a=sp&pid=1059452616

BreastScreen NSW

www.bsnsw.org.au/

BreastScreen Queensland

www.health.qld.gov.au/breastscreen/

BreastScreen SA

www.breastscreensa.sa.gov.au/

BreastScreen Tasmania

www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/services/view.php?id=397

BreastScreen Victoria

www.breastscreen.org.au/

BreastScreen Western Australia
www.breastscreen.health.wa.gov.au

BreastScreen Northern Territory www.nt.gov.au/health/comm_health/womens_health/breastscreen_nt.shtml

Common Breast Problems

Painful breasts

Often this is linked to the menstrual cycle, with your breasts becoming tender or painful just before your period. This is a normal occurrence caused by fluid retention due to hormonal activity at that time. However, it is wise to have it checked by your doctor who may be able to suggest ways to manage the discomfort.

Both the contraceptive pill and hormone replacement therapy can cause breast discomfort in some women. Sometimes a change in the prescribed type of hormone is necessary. Ask
your doctor.

How can I relieve breast tenderness or pain?

Try a warm shower, bath or hot water bottle to the breast
Some women find an ice pack over the breast more effective than warmth
Check that you have a comfortable, supportive bra. Alternatively, some women find it more comfortable without a bra at this time. Try and see which is the most comfortable for you
Reduce your intake of caffeine (coffee, tea, cola and chocolate). Also try to reduce your intake of salt and fat
You may find relief by taking 100mg of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) together with vitamin B1 (thiamine) and 1000mg or more of Evening Primrose Oil per day.

If none of the above relieves your breast discomfort, seek advice from your doctor.

Fibroadenomas

These are a common cause of breast lumps and occur more frequently in women between the ages of 15-30.

They may occur occasionally in older women. Each lump consists of fat and fibrous tissue that is benign (non-cancerous), is painless, feels quite firm and is mobile in the breast tissue.

Most fibroadenomas are small, however, as with all lumps they should be further assessed by your doctor.

Benign fibrocystic disease

This can develop as we age, and is the most common cause of non-cancerous lumps, thickening of the breast tissue, and cysts. It is more common in women whose breasts are particularly sensitive to the monthly changes in hormone levels associated with the menstrual cycle. The problem usually disappears after menopause, although if you are taking HT these symptoms may continue.

Cysts can be painful and are caused by fluid trapped in breast tissue. Although harmless, they should be checked by your doctor who may aspirate (remove) the fluid using a syringe with a fine needle. This procedure may cause some discomfort. The presence of fluid generally confirms the diagnosis, and following aspiration the cyst will usually disappear. Sometimes cysts continue to recur and surgical removal may be necessary.

Breast ultrasound is a diagnostic technique that can be used to assess whether a lump is cystic (fluid) or solid.

Nipple discharge

When breast feeding, it is quite normal for milk to leak from your nipples. This will gradually cease after you have weaned your baby.

If a discharge occurs at any other time, and particularly if the discharge is watery or blood stained, have this checked by your doctor.

Any inversion (pulling in) of the nipple should also be checked. Although often caused by harmless conditions, these symptoms can indicate a breast cancer.

Inflammation of the breast (mastitis)

This causes redness, heat and pain in the affected breast tissue. Most commonly this is caused by an infection during breast feeding, but can occur at other times. Treatment with antibiotics needs to be started immediately to prevent an abscess forming. However, if an abscess forms, a small surgical procedure is required to drain it.

If you have a breast problem, a visit to your doctor is recommended.

More information on breast health is available Breast Health

External Resources

National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre
www.nbcc.org.au

The National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre has been established to improve breast cancer control by:

Analysing research and making it readily available to women and health professionals;

Developing, disseminating and encouraging the adoption of clinical guidelines to improve the diagnosis, treatment and support of women with breast cancer;

Providing accurate and accessible information to well women, women with breast cancer, primary care providers and breast cancer specialists;

Developing a national monitoring system to provide information about all aspects of breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Network Australia
www.bcna.org.au Phone: 1800 500 258

Available from BCNA The My Journey Kit - a comprehensive free kit for those diagnosed with breast cancer in the last 12 months - Just ring the My Journey Kit request line 1300 785 562.

Breast Cancer Network Australia's role is to represent, empower, inform and advocate for Australians personally affected by breast cancer. It conducts projects that raise awareness of the impact of breast cancer on the community such as the Field of Women.

It empowers those affected by breast cancer by providing information through newsletters and the My Journey kit, linking them with information and support services. It influences key decision makers to ensure that the needs of people affected by breast cancer are considered when decisions are made about services, policy and research priorities. It achieves this by training breast cancer survivors as representatives and advocates.